Is Tantra and Tantric Sex the same?
“Tantra in itself is not necessarily a sex experience, it’s a way of life. And it’s a way of life that looks like expansion through awareness,”
— Sexuality Educator, Dr. Mitchell Steven Tepper.
Even though Tantra was born as a spiritual practice, only the sexual aspect of the ancient tradition seems to have made it to the West with such popularity. The equation of tantra with sex is a common misconception that flows from the simplified Western understanding of it.
“Being a spiritual tradition, Tantra is about exploring our humanity, the divine, and our consciousness. It is more concerned about self-transformation and spiritual realization than shortsighted pleasure.”
— Spiritual Teacher and Energy Worker, Aline Ra M, What Is Tantra?
This, however, isn’t totally without merit. Since Tantra considers the human body and experience as a way to understand the universe (or the divine), human sexuality becomes just one of many meaningful experiences on the spiritual journey...an appealing perspective when the norm was (and in some cases continues to be) sex for reproductive purposes, or sex as a shameful or sinful practice.
“For Tantrikas, practitioners of Tantra, awakening and activating desire was one of many tools to achieve this bliss beyond the physical body.”
Learn more about Tantra by watching our episode with Dr. Michell Tepper
